Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne is a speaker, activist and author. He founded the Simple Way, an intentional community in Philadelphia, building a neighborhood of belonging. And he leads Red Letter Christians, a group that tries to live “like Jesus meant the things he said.” I interviewed Shane at the Sojourners office in DC right after the Moral March on Washington, led by the Poor People’s Campaign. “Courage … Continue reading Shane Claiborne

Am I next?

This photo feels different today. It’s part of a series we did in Minneapolis in 2020 after George Floyd was killed by police. We asked the community, “What do you want to say?” This woman simply replied, “Am I next?” So here we are. Two years after #GeorgeFloyd. One week after #Buffalo. The morning after #Texas. I read a statistic the other day that 75% … Continue reading Am I next?

Jillian Peterson

Jillian Peterson teaches Criminology and Criminal Justice at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She co-founded The Violence Project with James Densley and they have compiled the most comprehensive mass shooter database in order to better understand the phenomenon and prevent future tragedies. “One of my goals is to convince people that violence prevention is a way that we lead our lives every day. It doesn’t have … Continue reading Jillian Peterson

Lee Bennett, Jr.

Lee Bennet, Jr. grew up a few blocks away from Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and is a long-time member of the congregation. A retired Army officer, Lee spent several years as Deputy Chief of Staff of the White House Drug Control Policy Office and currently serves as a volunteer historian for his church. Mother Emanuel has weathered a long legacy of … Continue reading Lee Bennett, Jr.

Coming down the mountain

I was at Holden Village last month when I heard the news. A mosque in my hometown of Bloomington, Minnesota had been bombed. Thankfully, nobody was hurt. I saw photos of the bomb’s damage in the national media, and those photos were taken by a friend. In the footage of the crowd that gathered, I saw people I knew, and they were friends. A few … Continue reading Coming down the mountain

Kim Book

Kim Book’s 17-year-old daughter, Nicole, was murdered in 1995. She recalls that a year later, at the trial, she forgave the young man who had killed Nicole, and the act of forgiveness opened the door to peace in her life. Several years later, Kim founded Victims’ Voices Heard, a restorative justice program in Delaware that brings victims and offenders together in an effort to find … Continue reading Kim Book